'1784' 1/2P Machin's Related, Vlack 14-84A, BN F12BN 认证号48178374, PCGS号935

From the Earlycoppercoins PCGS Registry Set. Purchased from the Stack’s auction of 04/03/24, where this coin was lot #3116 and described as: “1784 Circulating Counterfeit Halfpenny. Vlack 14-84A, W-8130. Rarity-5. Machin's Mills Related. Fine-12 (PCGS). A highly elusive counterfeit halfpenny, included on the same Vlack plates as the Machin's Mills halfpence though struck by a different manufacturer. Examples of this rare counterfeit have turned up in the ground throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The strike quality on this issue is widely variable, probably by design, and most examples show significant striated areas from issues with the rolled planchet stock. This specimen is attractive dark chocolate brown, smoother than most, though still microscopically granular. The obverse legend is complete and the profile, including the eye, is fairly well brought up, unaffected by a natural planchet striation in the right field. The reverse shows a complete legend and full, bold date, though the top of the reverse is, as always, weak. PCGS has graded 16 of these pieces, almost all VF-35 or lower. The "higher grade" pieces are typically hallmarked by more even strikes, but not usually less wear. This example is finer than its assigned grade suggests, and examination of other specimens will better place this piece in context and elucidate the particular problem of assigning a coin like this a numerical grade. Provenance: From our Americana Sale of February 2015, lot 1030.” The coin sold for $1057.50 back in 2015, and I was fortunate enough to purchase it for just $900 here in 2024. This is a tough variety to price: some of these bring lots of money, and some don't – I guess it depends on who needs one at that time? The PCGS Price Guide assigns a value of $2,150 while the latest Whitman Encyclopedia from 2020 values a F12 at $2,500. This feels like a $1500 coin so I will go with that. PCGS F12 Machin’s Related Vlack 14-84A, #935.12/48178374.